Waiter&#39;s tray.



No. 796,234. PATENT-ED AUGn, 1905.

, 1 A. MBRRIMAN. WAITBRS TRAY;

APPLIOATIONIILED APB., 26.1905.

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PATENT OFFICE.

INGRAMl A.r MERRIMAN, BLUFFTON, INDIANA.

WAIT'ERS TRAY.

No. 796.234. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application led April 26, 1905. A Serial `bT^Y 257,476.

. tray which will enable a number of dishes to be carried conveniently and with'safety.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims. Y

Reference is to. be had to the accmpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the tray, and Fig. 2 is a Vertical central section taken ina plane at right angles to the plane of projection in Fig. 1. l

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1

represents the body of the device, which consists of a cylindrical drum.l Said drum come' prises an upper head 2 and a lower head 3,

connected by a circumferential wall 4. Atl

the forward side this wall 4 is cut away so as to form an opening 5, vas shown .most clearly in Fig. 1. The lower side of this opening is preferably formed with a lip or bead 6, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter.

On the under side of the head 2 a plate 7 is attached which underlies the central point of the upper head, as will be readily understood.

The body of this plate extends rearwardly' with respect to theA opening 5 and is bent downwardly, so as to form a stop or vertical wall 8, the lower edgeof said wall 8 being attached by solder or similar means to the upper face of the lower head 3. At the central point of the head 2 a stem or rod 9 is rigidly attached at an opening 10, formed through the upper head and the reinforcing-plate 7. The upper extremity of this stem 9 is provided with a transverse handle 11, so that a T-head is formed aty the upper extremity of the stem', as will appear most clearly from Fig. 1.

The edge of the upper head 2 is preferably formed upwardly, so as to present a lip 12,

vpassing continuously thereabout, as shown.

l I provide an upper shelf 13,.which consists of a large platehaving a central opening 14, through which the rod 9 passes. At the central portion of this platea funnel-shaped guide 15 is provided, which terminates Vbelow in atubular extension 16, which constitutes a guide, fitting closely about the rod 9. From this arrangement this sleeve operates to brace and support the shelf 13l in a horizontal position. This upper shelf is supported upon the upper head 2, as willlbe readily understood. I provide a second shelf or lower-shelf 17, which is similar in construction to the body of the upper shelf 13. It consists simply of a disk having an upwardly-turned edge or lip 18, extended continuously thereabout. This shelf is formed with an enlarged central opening 19, through which the tubular extension 16 passes freely, as will be understood.

This second or lower shelf is supported upon the upper edge of the lip 12 of the upper head 2.

In using this tray the Waiter would take the same into the kitchen and place the dishes upon the upper and lower shelves 13 and 17, and

the plate, knife, and fork and small table articles would be placed in the interior of the drum 1, being inserted through the opening 5. The wall 5 would operate in this connection as a step to prevent the dishes and other articles n from being shoved too far back into the drum. In using the tray it would be set at a convenient point in front or to one side of the person being served, and he would then help himself to the dishes one by one, replacing them upon the tray when finished. vWhen the` meal is finished, the diners plate would be returned to the interior of the drum, and the waiter would then carry thetray away.

Attention is called to the fact that the center of gravity of the tray, together with the dishes, liesconsiderably belowthe point of support-that is, the handle ll--and from this arrangement the tray may be carried conveniently without danger 'of upsetting the dishes.

1. A tray comprising a drum having an p opening in the side thereof and adapted to receive table articles, a rod extending upwardly from said drum and carrying a handle, and an v' upper shelf having an opening receiving said rod, said shelf having a funnel-shaped sleeve therebelow, constituting a guide for maintaining the same in a horizontal position.

2. A tray comprising a drum having an upper head and a lower head, and a circumferential wall with an opening therethrough, a transverse wall within said drum, opposite said opening and constituting a stop, a rod extending upwardly from said upper head, an upper shelf having an opening receiving said rod and having a funnel-shaped sleeve on the under side thereof, said sleeve having a tubular extension enveloping said rod and constituting a guide for supporting said shelf in a substantially horizontal position.

3. A tray comprising a drum having an upper head with an upwardly-projecting edge disposed continuously thereabout, said drum being adapted to receive table articles therein, a rod attached in said head and projecting vertically therefrom, an upper shelf having an opening receiving said rod and having a funnel-shaped sleeve on the under side thereof, said sleeve having a tubular extension fitting closely to said rod and constituting a guide for maintaining said upper shelf in a substantially horizontal position, and a lower shelf resting upon said upper head and having an enlarged opening receiving said tubular extension.

4f. A tray comprising a drum having an upper head and a lower head and a circumferentially-disposed wall connecting said heads, said wall having an opening therethrough through which articles may be introduced into said drum, a reinforcing-plate on the under side of said head and extending rearwardly with respect to said opening, the rear extremity of said plate being bent downwardly and presenting a substantially vertical wall constituting a stop to arrest the inward Inovement of articles introduced into the drum, and a rod extending upward from said upper head and passing through an opening in said reinforcing-plate, said rod having a handle at the upper extremity thereof for supporting said drum.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speeilicationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IN GRAM A. MERRIMAN.

Witnesses Jussu E. STEPHENSON, VVInLIAM R. AKER. 

